Mig Greengard's ChessNinja.com
Free sample issues  White Belt: Sample issue #1#2  Black Belt: Sample issue #1 #2

January 31, 2006

Wanted: Wojtkiewicz & Tate

[Update: Both Wojtkiewicz and Tate have made contact. Wow, that was fast. Behold the power of Dirt! Thanks, guys.] The AF4C is putting out an APB for US Championship qualifiers Aleks Wojtkiewicz and Emory Tate. Their player contracts are well overdue and they haven't been able to contact them despite a frantic search. Replacements will be named unless they return their contracts. Tate's trail stops at the Liberty Bell Open a few weeks ago, where, according to several accounts, he was involved in a serious altercation with hotel security. Don't tell me we have another invitee in jail! As for Wojo, if he becomes the first player ever to lose his spot by forgetting to send in his contract, the Polish jokes are going to be hard to avoid.

Now that I've managed to offend everyone with a simple request for information... Seriously, if you can let them know to contact the AF4C ASAP or can provide their contact info to John Henderson at the AF4C it would be greatly appreciated.

Posted at 13:24 | Permanent link | Tags:
Subscribe now! Buy ChessNinja gear!
Comments

I've been at two other tournaments where Tate was envolved in altercations. Apparently a good chessplayer with some unresolved issues.

Posted by: chesstraveler at January 31, 2006 14:19

I've played in a tournament with Tate. In fact, I actually played a game against him. (Did something dumb and got crushed.) I can say this: Tate is out of his skull. I saw him try to pick a woman up in a bar with the line, "I'm one of the best chess players on the planet." That did not get far.

Someone let the ICCers know there's a Tate thread going and this site will get swamped.

Posted by: Icepick at January 31, 2006 14:37

That was NOT the intent of this item! Anyone know where he is?

Posted by: Mig at January 31, 2006 14:58

APB - Acquisition Program Baseline ??

Posted by: Jens Madsen at January 31, 2006 14:59

Ask Daaim Shabazz. He will know.

Posted by: peach at January 31, 2006 15:00

Wojtkiewicz has made contact. One down, one to go!

Posted by: Mig at January 31, 2006 15:17

I just talked to an admin at ICC. While not divulging a handle, he said he would e-mail him this link.

Posted by: KCotreau at January 31, 2006 15:38

I just sent you his (Tate) email address plus messaged his ICC handle about this.

Duncan

Posted by: Duncan Oxley at January 31, 2006 15:52

Emory Tate is no more a character than Wojo in the chess world. Everybody has a Wojo story about his occasional loutish behavior at the chess board. On this regard, Wojo makes Tate looks like a saint!

Posted by: JVeal at January 31, 2006 16:03

Folks,

John Henderson had Tate's e-mail address since yesterday morning and contacted Tate.

The good thing is John was successful in reaching both players. That's all that matters.

Posted by: Daaim Shabazz at January 31, 2006 16:06

Another thing--if Tate has "unresolved" issues then Wojo needs to be put in a mental institution for life.

Posted by: JVeal at January 31, 2006 16:06

Another thing--if Tate has "unresolved" issues then Wojo needs to be put in a mental institution for life.

Posted by: JVeal at January 31, 2006 16:07

JVeal--

What stories? Enquiring minds want to know!

Posted by: greg koster at January 31, 2006 16:12

Greg,

If nasty gossip is what the reading public wants, I can tie today's thread with yesterday's by bringing up a personal Boris Kreiman story. Nothing involving physical violence though (unfortunately for you gossip-hounds, but very fortunately for me !!) But, I'm afraid you'll have to wait for my book for the details.

Larry Evans (among others) has published a few stories that reflect badly on the late Sammy Reshevsky.

I also have one that reflects poorly on someone who I'm afraid to even name -- since I'd come off like I was like defaming Mother Teresa. (And if you haven't already figured it out, there is very little in chess that makes me afraid.)

The older readers among you may recall the name of Jackie Beers, whose "unresolved issues" rating was north of 3000.

Posted by: Jon Jacobs at January 31, 2006 16:32

Funny there's a thread on this on Chess NINJA.

Posted by: John Fernandez at January 31, 2006 16:58

Jon Jacobs, is the person you are afraid to name alive or dead? If dead, I have a guess, although I won't post it here. I'm not THAT fearless!

Posted by: Icepick at January 31, 2006 17:23

Icepick,

In battles with the dead, the living have an advantage that the various engines evaluate at anywhere from +0.85 (+/-) to +2.47 (+ - ).

The film, "Mommie Dearest", testifies convincingly to this truism.

I refer to the ending: Joan's lawyer reads the two children the late actress's will which says: "I'm leaving you nothing, for reasons you well know." Her kids knew nothing of the sort; they had been good kids, while Joan had been the mom from hell.

The movie ends with that scene. The clear implication is, the kids refuted her parting shot from the grave with their own counter-shot -- writing the book and making the movie that told the world what Joan was really like.

So, unless you believe in voodoo or vampires, you need not fear the dead -- especially someone you never offended while they were alive.

Posted by: Jon Jacobs at January 31, 2006 18:19

I have happened to have very positive experiences with both Aleks and Emory. Let's be careful with the thoughtless gossip.

Posted by: stendec at January 31, 2006 18:25

John Fernandez

can you give me the url of the thread on Chess Ninja. I have looked everywhere and can not find it.

thanks in advance

Tommy

Posted by: tommy at January 31, 2006 18:53

I have had very positive experiences with both Aleks and Emory, so let's be careful with the thoughtless gossip.

Posted by: stendec at January 31, 2006 19:25

Tate!
A great man.
A mighty fine man.

Posted by: ICCer at January 31, 2006 19:42

Stendec, my comments were merely reporting of what I had witnessed with my own eyes and ears.

Jon Jacobs, your answer was non-responsive! And while one might not have to fear the dead themselves, they often have friends amongst the living.

Posted by: Icepick at January 31, 2006 20:38

Icepick,

To say "I've played in a tournament with Tate" already questions your credibility. How many of us have played in a tournament with Tate?

You played Tate... so what? Oh... he tried a line in a bar on a woman. Were you really eavesdropping to their conversation? There may be other things that one can question of Tate's behavior, but not the fact that he made a move on a woman in a bar.

By your posts, it seems as if you're enamored with gossip and innuendo.

Posted by: Daaim Shabazz at January 31, 2006 22:32

i too have played in a tournament where emory tate played in. i also heard some of the stories about him while @ this tournament. however, i had the chance to meet him and spend some time with him( we had been bumping into each other at the same tourneys) and found him to be very pleasant. it's not paranoia when "they" truly are out to get u.


marty

Posted by: marty at January 31, 2006 22:47

I have played in many tournaments with Tate. I have played Tate. I have driven with Tate through the deserts of Utah and Nevada. I like Emory Tate.

Posted by: fluffy at January 31, 2006 23:33

I have seen Tate play at many tournaments. To spectators, he's very entertaining. He is a fighter over the board, not off. Sure, he's intense. But he is good. He has a certain sense of humor about his intensity. He knows when he goes over the top and can laugh about it.

Walter Browne once called him the most dangerous untitled player he ever faced. Q.E.D.

Posted by: Julian Maltese at February 1, 2006 00:13

Oh, Shabazz, get over your bad self already. I wasn't questioning that he was hitting on a woman in a bar: I was questioning his choice of pick-up line. Exactly how dense are you?

And as for eves-dropping, I was standing at said bar getting a drink, same as Tate, same as the woman. Early on a Saturday afternoon in Fells Point, Baltimore, it wasn't exactly HOPING, you know. Even the TV was turned off.

Posted by: Icepick at February 1, 2006 00:42

Do chess player have groupies?
If so, at what rating do the babes start to arrive?
:-)

Posted by: Robert Blake at February 1, 2006 07:59

Well on that note before the game 14 of his match with Leko Kramnik was seeing walking the streets of Astana with a beautiful woman, this being somekind of therapy to instill mental confidence or something of the sort.

Posted by: Ivan the Terrible at February 1, 2006 08:49

Oh, I see IcePick...

His choice of pickup lines makes him "out of his skull?" Anyway... who on this board (except you) cares about Tate's pickup lines? Take your gossip (about people you don't know) elsewhere.

Posted by: Daaim Shabazz at February 1, 2006 09:10

Oh hell!
That's 2700+

Posted by: Robert Blake at February 1, 2006 09:16

Ivan--
I love these little known chess facts. Before today I'll bet no one knew that Kramnik flew in from Astana to play Game 14 against Leko.

Icepick--
Don't curse the darkness, light a candle! Share some of your better pickup lines with him (and us).

Posted by: greg koster at February 1, 2006 11:06

yes the groupies dont show up until you pass about 2852 elo. I believe Kasparov topped out at 2851. so that should give you a nice goal to shoot for.

I find most of the conversation negative and not very nice.

One very good comment came from fluffy. Thank you fluffy. good to see some nice people around here today.

Well I am ready to move on to a new more positive topic.

Posted by: tommy at February 1, 2006 13:24

But Tommy -- now that you've let us know you won't be here, it becomes safe to gossip about you. :)

Posted by: jon jacobs at February 1, 2006 17:13

I would like to see both Tate and Wojo in the US Championship. I have met both, and both are ok in my book! Tate's mother lives in my state. And we hung out at the 2000(1)? World Open. Wojo played in a Biloxi, MS tournament. (no more of those for awhile due to Katrina!)

Posted by: Morrowind at February 2, 2006 05:13

Quote by jon jacobs

"But Tommy -- now that you've let us know you won't be here, it becomes safe to gossip about you. :)"

Thanks for the good belly laugh.

But you are a little late. the Gossip already started.

Tommy

Posted by: tommy at February 2, 2006 09:38

Daim, I dunno anything 'bout Tate, but I have to agree with Icepick that "I'm one of the strongest Chess players on the planet" has to be a strong contender for worst pick up line ever!

Posted by: d at February 3, 2006 06:23

It's not what you say, it's how you say it.

Posted by: greg koster at February 3, 2006 11:47

i bow down to Mr Koster's superior knowledge.

Posted by: d at February 4, 2006 15:13

Jon, since you're dropping little teasers with no money shot, why not get cracking with your comparative defamation of Mother Teresa instead? She was a fundamentalist and a fraud, so at least it would be a safer bet for you than fingering a chess saint.

Posted by: Clubfoot at February 5, 2006 12:38

Wanna know what's wrong with chess here in the USA??
No interest from the average sports fan. I've met and conversed with Wojo a few times in tourneys, heard his lectures, ect. and he's a real good person. His girlfriend writes about him at www.chessgames.com and gives you a little of the personal side of his persona. He's gone thru a lot of hard times in Europe, and is a very kind and warm human being. Have never had the pleasure of meeting Tate, but if what I hear is true, what a dream match this could be for American chess. Get Ashley, Yasser, maybe Fedo, Christiansen, maybe even get the female take from Susan Polgar or Jen Shahade. Chess has to start appealing to the average sports fan, if interest is to start growing. Oh well my two cents.

Posted by: Bruce Towell at February 5, 2006 18:39

Bit of an uphill battle, since [i]most people don't consider chess a sport. [/i]

I'd be perfectly happy with expanding the niche market we're in...

Posted by: cynical at February 7, 2006 08:37
Post a comment









Remember personal info?